Table Visibility

When you want to hide a whole table if there is no data in the dataset, use this in visibility:

if(Total.count() <1){true}

Removing Hyperlinks from null values in a Birt Cross Tab

When you use dynamic hyperlinks from a cross tab that has some null values in the cells, with a slight javascript modification to your hyperlink, you can hide all the little blue underscores in the cells with no values.

if (data["count_Building/bldg_Work Code/craft_code"]!= null) {"https://gwuapp.assetworks.com/fmax/screen/SC_BROWSE?aeSCtrE.contractor="+data["contractor"]+"&aeSCtrE.statusCode="+data["status_code"]"}

or

if (summary data row!= null) {"hyperlink"}

Problems with "ANY" data types in Birt 2.5.1

We recently had a performance issue with the Aim application that was attributed to "ANY" data types in some of our Birt reports. Apparently, Birt prefers data types other than "ANY" such as string, integer, etc. A review of all 73 of our custom reports indicated that "ANY" data types occurred in computer data set columns and parameters. Best way to track these down is to look at your data sets in the output columns screen and in the parameter set up. As a final check, do a text search for "ANY" in the xml. We found cases where the parameter was set to string, but was any in the xml. Thanks to Greg Williams for going through all 73 of the reports.

Cascading Date Range Parameters

I've written about date range parameters in an earlier post. In that post I wrote about using a group-by month sql query to dynamically create parameter lists. As I used the technique for a while, I noticed an irritating flaw. Because the two parameters were independent of each other, it was possible to request an end date that was before the start date, which generated 0 records when the report was run. Had to be a better way. I knew about cascading parameters, but found that their use was too limiting for the reports I like to create. But maybe I could use them to make a better date range parameter.

So using the technique described in the earlier post, I made two data sets, one called begin date and one called end date.

Begin date has a query like:

select distinct convert(datetime, convert(varchar,dateadd(day,-datepart(day,ae_s_fnd_a.tranx_date)+1,ae_s_fnd_a.tranx_date), 101)) as starting_date,

right(convert(varchar, ae_s_fnd_a.tranx_date, 106), 8) as display_name

from ae_s_fnd_a

end date has a query like:

Select distinct dateadd(ss,-1, convert(datetime, convert(varchar,(dateadd (mm,1,ae_s_fnd_a.tranx_date - day (ae_s_fnd_a.tranx_date)+2)-1), 101))) as ending_date,

right(convert(varchar, ae_s_fnd_a.tranx_date, 106), 8) as display_name

from ae_s_fnd_a

where ae_s_fnd_a.tranx_date > ?

Then make a cascading parameter, with the first parameter called begin date. Make it a list box, dynamically created, and reference the begin date data set. Set it to order descending by starting date.

Then add another parameter called end date. Reference the end date data set. Everything else same as above.

Then go back to your end date data set. Create a data set parameter referencing the begin date report parameter.

End result is that your end date parameter will be filtered by dates AFTER your start date. So you just cant pick a date BEFORE your start date.

Hyperlink to a new email off Birt Report

I made a series of contact list reports off the Human Resources module for use as a phone/email directory and I wanted to make the email addresses hyperlinked so that the default email application would start an email when the address was clicked off the report.

Make a text field in the email column of your table. Set type to html.

I tried to punch the code into the body of my post, but the browser is reading it as html and not showing all the code, so check out the image for the code.

Creating Birt Sub-Reports Using Dataset Parameter Binding

I'm going to write about a feature that I only recently discovered and wished I knew about a long time ago. The concept is how to do sub-reporting and neatly tie the master value with sub-reports using something called dataset parameter binding.

For example, let's say I have a master record like a service contract, and I want to report all the associated invoices associated to the service contract.

I have a primary dataset of service contracts, and a secondary dataset of invoices.

Make a table for service contract. Inside the detail row of the service contract table, place another table for invoice data.

Create a dataset parameter in the invoice dataset. It is not tied to a report parameter, so you are forced to choose a default value. Go ahead and do this even though it seems weird.

Then go to your invoice table. Select binding and click on dataset parameter binding. Edit the existing binding by identifying the corresponding dataset row from the contract table. This ties the outer table to the inner table.

Once you get this simple example you can expand the concept. I made a dashboard for shop supervisors a combination of 5 charts and tables all using dataset parameter binding that works great in the Aim Workdesk.

Alternative Row Highlighting in Birt

To improve readability of a list report, alternative row highlighting can be applied to the detail row of a table. Select the entire row, and then click on the Highlighting Tab in the Property Editor. Click Add and then paste the following text

row.__rownum %2

into the "if the following condition is true field". Set the next field to equal to and then put a 0 into the last field. Then down at the bottom, select "background color" and pick out a LIGHT grey color. You'll be presented with basic colors, but I like to pick a custom lighter grey because it prints better.